Flexible tape-dispensing and severing device



R. L. COMET FLEXIBLE TAPE-DISPENSING AND SEVERING DEVICE Filed Feb. 18, 1964 July 13, 1965 .2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. E441 4. GOMEZ FIG. 1

4 rralelv fa July 13, 1965 R. L. COMET 3,194,463

FLEXIBLE TAPE-DISPENSING AND SEVERING DEVICE Filed Feb. 18, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3.

INVENTOR.

244 1. cow/E7;

BY z/ JDW United States Patent 3,194,463 FLEXIBLE TAPE-DISPENSING AND SEVERING DEVICE Ralph L. Comet, Paterson, NJ. (200 Baldwin Road, Parsippany, NJ.) Filed Feb. 18, 1964, Ser. No. 345,643 Claims. (Cl. 225-16) This invention relates to the general field of dispensing and severing devices, and more specifically, the instant invention pertains to the provision of the dispensing and severing of tape in desired lengths for the purposes of masking, in the packaging of materials, and in similar operations wherein normally an extensive waste of tape is incurred.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide a tape-dispensing and severing device which, under normal conditions of operation, will dispense and will sever a given length of tape at all times.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tapedispensing device which, upon repeated operations, will deliver a given length of-tape or tapes for severance without departing from a given norm.

A further object of this invention is to provide a tapedispensing and severing device together with means for dispensing and severing tapes having lengths varying from a predetermined norm.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a tape-dispensing and severing device which may be manually operated by one hand in a single tape-drawing and severing operation.

This invention contemplates, as a still further object thereof, the provision of a tape-dispensing and severing device wherein the severing means is provided with a guard to prevent inadvertent and accidental cuts and abrasions to the user of the device, as well as to prevent the severing means from cutting or becoming entangled with the clothes of the user or a casual passerby.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a tape-dispensing and severing device of the type generally referred to above, wherein the device is made of but few moving parts to render the same a maximum of simplicity from the standpoint of mechanical structure, to enable the device to operate under its normal operating conditions repeatedly without deviation, and wherein the user of the device is assured, at all times, that the length of tape to be dispensed and severed will be of the proper length in order to avoid undue wastage.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a tape-dispensing and severing device wherein a measured length of tape always remains available to the user of the device for manual manipulation in connection with the next dispensing and severing operation.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a tape-dispensing and severing means wherein a given length of tape may be withdrawn from the device in a measured length through the application of force directly to the tape, per se, or which may be, optionally, dispensed from the device through the operation of mechanical means and wherein the lengths of tape dispensed and subsequently severed regardless of the means employed, will be of predetermined lengths.

This invention contemplates, as a still further object thereof, the provision of a tape-dispensing and severing device of the type generally referred to supra, wherein the device is non-complex in construction and assembly, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and maintain, and which is durable in use.

Other and further objects and advantages of the instant invention will become more manifest from a consideration of the following specification when read in conjunction with the annexed drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a tape-dispensing 3,19%,453 Patented July 13, 1965 and severing device constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a rear elevational view of the flexible tape-dispensing and severing device illustrated in FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a detail cross-sectional view, FIGURE 3 being taken substantially on the vertical plane of line 33 of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is a bottom plan view of the flexible tapedispensing and severing device shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a detail cross-sectional View, FIGURE 5 being taken substantially on the vertical plane of line 5-5 of FIGURE 3, looking in the direction of the arrows, FIGURE 5 illustrating in dotted lines the movement of the anvil during the tape-dispensing operation;

FIGURE 6 is a detail cross-sectional view, FIGURE 6 being taken substantially on the vertical plane of line 6-6 of FIGURE 3, looking in the direction of the arrows and illustrating the anvil in its lowermost position;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the anvil, per se; and

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary detail, cross-sectional view illustrating a mode of operation of the tape-dispensing and severing device.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, reference numeral 10 designates, in general a tape-dispensing and severing device constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention. The device 10 is seen to include an elongated substantially hollow rectangular base 12 having opposed substantially parallel sidewalls 14, 16 each of which is provided with a continuous peripheral inwardly-extending base flange 18 which adjacent each corner of the base 12 is formed with an integral outwardly-extending lug or foot 20 (see FIGURES 4 and 5) centrally apertured at 22 to receive fastening means of conventional design therethrough to anchor the base 12 to any suitable support.

Each sidewall 14, 16 includes integrally-formed and upwardly-extending arcuately-shaped lobes 24, 26, respectively, and the side-walls 14, 16 are connected at a pair of their respective rear ends by an upwardlyextending arcuate end wall 28 (see FIGURES 3 and 4). The rear ends of the sidewalls I4, 16 and the outer terminal end of the arcuate end wall 28 merge to form a substantially upright block 30.

To serve a function to be described below, the block 30 is provided with a'downwardly-opening substantially U-shaped cut-out 32 to provide a pair of laterally-spaced and upwardly-projecting substantially rectangular arms 34, 36.

As is clearly seen in the drawings, the sidewalls 14, 16, as well as the lobes 24, 26 are formed with continuous integrally-connected laterally-spaced and confronting flanges 38, 40, respectively, and the flanges 38, 40 adjacent their respective rear ends are integrally connected with the block 30. As is seen in the drawings, the flanges '38, 40 merge with the block 30at a point below the upper ends of the arms 34, 36, the upper ends of the arms 34, 36 being disposed in a common horizontal plane. At the point of merger of the flanges 38, 40 with the arms 34, 66 a pair of laterally-spaced shoulders 4-2, 44 are formed to receive a substantially rectangular back plate 46. It will be seen in the several ifigures of the drawings that the upper end of the back plate 46 projects above the common plane of the upper ends of the arms 34, 36. Reference numeral 48 designates, in general, a substantially triangular element which extends across the arms 34, 36 adjacent the upper ends thereof with the !base side 56 lying flush against the arms 34, 36. As is seen, the upper edge 5-2 of the triangular element 48 is common to the plane of the upper end of the back plate 46. The triangular element 48 is secured to the substantially U-shaped guard having an elongated bight portion 66' which is adapted to overlie the-serrated apex, the bight 66 terminating at each end thereof in a pair of longitudinal-ly-spaced substantially parallel arms 68, '70, the latter having inwardly-turned ends 72, 74 which are pivotally mounted in the arms 34, 36.

The block 30 is provided with a base wall 76 formed by the upper end 81) of the curvilinear end wall :23 and by slotted extensions 82, 84 formed in the rear portions of the flanges 38', 40. The extensions 32, 84 are wider than the flanges 38, 40 and are disposed in laterally-spaced and substantially parallel relationship. Disposed within each of the slotted extensions 82, 84 is a U-shaped guide 86, '88, the guides 86, 88 opening toward each other. The guides 86, 88 are formed of a self-lubricating plastic material, for example, of Teflon, and slidably receive for reciprocation therein the longitud-inally-extending edges of an elongated substantially rectangular draw plate 90 formed of any suitable rigid material. Extending longitudinally of the draw plate 90 is a substantially rectangular drawbar 552, the drawbar 92 being substantially centrally located with respect to the longitudinallyextending sides of the draw plate 90. If desired, although not required in the practice of this invention, a handle d4 may be fixedly secured by a screw 96 to the outer end of the drawbar 92. The draw plate and drawbar maybe secured together by conventional means as, for example, screws 93.

Draw plate 90 may be provided with sealer indicia 100 along a longitudinally-extending side thereof. A stop lug 102 may be mounted on the side of the draw plate 'and'held in adjusted position relative thereto by means of a set screw 104. The stop lug 102 is adapted for engagement with an abutment element 106 secured to the inner end of the tlange extension 82.

As is seen in the drawings, the lobes 24, 26 overhang, partially, the flanges 38, 4t) and the upper end of each lobe 24, 26 is formed with an upwardly-opening downwardly-inclined slot 108. The slots 108 receive the reduced ends .1 of a shaft 112 which extends transversely between the lobes 24, 26. Secured on the shaft 112 is a roll of tape 114 which is to be dispensed and severed.

Extending across the lobes 24, 26 and integral therewith is a downwardly-curved top wall 116 which terminates at its upper end proximate to, but spaced from the tape 1 14 to provide a suitable opening 118. The top wall .116 extends downwardly to merge with the sidewalls 14, v16 and, at a point adjacent the side walls 14, 16, the top wall 116 is thickened, as at 120, and abutting against the inner side of the thickened portion 120 is a substantially rectangular abutment plate 124. The abutment plate 1-24 is secured to the top wall 116 as by screws 1-26 and is substantially as wide as the width of the draw plate 90.

Extending between the sidewalls 14, 16 adjacent the forward end thereof and fixedly secured thereto is a cross shaft .128. With special reference to FIGURE 3 of the drawings, it is seen that the cross shaft 128 has loosely mounted thereon a constant-force spring 180 having one of its free ends fixedly secured to the draw plate 90 and drawbar 92 by means of a screw132 or by other conventionalmeans.

Lobes 24, 26, adjacent the lower end of the overhung sections support a shaft 134 over which is telescopically 4 mounted a sleeve 136 formed of brass,1hronze,or other suitable material.

Referring now more specifically to FIGURE'7, reference numeral 138 indicates, in general, a substantially T-shaped anvil which includes 'a substantially rectangular stem 141]) having substantially rectangular extensions 14-2 which project laterally away 'fromone another adjacent one end of the stem-1411. The anvil 138 is adapted to be mounted forrec'ipr-ocation between the arms 34,36 with the extensions142. normally engaging and resting upon the upper ends of the arms 34, 36. It will also be noted that the extensions 142, as well'as the part of the stern g 140 are normally disposed between the back plate 46 and a confronting portion of the base side 52 of the triangu: lar element 48. r

Having described and illustrated the tape-dispensing and severing device in detail, the operation thereof will now be set forth below.

The device 10 is first loaded with a reel of tape 114, the tape 114 being supported on the shaft 112., the'ends I of which are engaged within the slots 168. The free end of the tape 114 is now passed behind the sleeve 136 with the tacky side of the-tape 1 14 facing the drawbar 92. The free end of the tape 114 isthen drawn in the direction of the anvil 138 which is raised orentirely withdrawn to permit the free end'2lll} (see FIGURE 3) to pass below the anvil 138 for a reasonable distance. The anvil 138 is now lowered to make contact with that portion of the free or leading end 290 of the tape 114.

Now, it should be noted at this point, that there must be extended from beneath the'anvil 138 a sufl'lcient-length of the free end 260 to permit the device 10 to function in its intended manner. FIGURE 3 shows'the free end 2% as having a portion thereof extending well beyond the apex of the triangular element 48 and this was. done for elaboration and'for the purposes of clarity.

For fully eifectivc operation of the device it is only necessary that the extended free end portion 200 be of such length as topermit the user to grasp the same in the actuation of the device.

Assuming that the device 111 has been loaded in the manner described, and the component elements thereof are in their respective poistions illustrated in FIGURE 3, the user merely grasps the free end 200 and draws the tape outwardly toward himself. Now, it will 7 be recalled that the tacky side of the tape 114 is facing the drawbar 92. As the user continues to pull on the free end 200, the tacky side of the tape 114 will engage against the upper side of the drawbar 92 and will cause the same to move outwardly toward the user.

When a desired length of tape has been withdrawn, to gether with the drawbar 92 and draw plate 90, the user of the device It raises the tape 114" upwardly and away from the drawbar 92 (see FIGURE 8). Referring again to FIGURE 3, it will benoted that only a very small portion of the gummed surface of the tape 114. makes contact with the drawbar 92. Thus, the free end 201] is turned upwardly in the direction of the arrow shown in FIGURE 3, adhesion between the tape 114 and the drawbar 92 is broken, and the draw plate and drawbar 2 retract and return to their original positions under the influence of the spring 130. The abutment plate 124, being formed of a resilient material, absorbs the force of the sudden snapping of the return movement of the draw plate 91 and drawbar $2. After these elements have returned to their retracted positions, the'user, will then lower the tape from the full-line poistion shown inFIGURE 3, to a substantially horizontal position, shown in dotted lines, whereby the anvil 138 is lowered to engage a new portion of the tape 114. The operator now again turns the .free end 2% to engage against the. apex 611 of the triangular element 48 for severance. The bight 66 will, of course, move upwardly to freely admit engagement of the tape section 2119 with the serrations 62.

At this point it is deemed of importance to note that snoaeea if the device is operated in the manner described, there will always be a free end portion 200 having a length equal to the distance between the apex 60 and the lower outer edge of the anvil 13$ whereby the user is always provided with a length of tape to effect subsequent withdrawals thereof. It should also be noted that with the return of the anvil 138 into engagement with that portion of the tape 114 disposed immediately therebelow, any further force exerted by the operator during the severing operation will not efiect further dispensing of the tape 114 due to the weight of the anvil 138 on that portion of the tape 114 immediately therebelow and due to the adherence of the tape 114 with the drawbar 92.

The device 10 as so far described is designed to be operated by but one hand. The tape-dispensing and subsequent severance by the use of one hand permits the operator to hold an object to be taped in his other hand, whereby the taping of the object is expedited with but a minimum of expenditure of time. However, if the device 10 is to be operated through the use of the handle 94 to elfect withdrawal of the drawbar 92 and the draw plate 90, then of course, two hands must be employed to carry out the functions described above.

If it is intended to sever a number of lengths of tape 114 all of the same length, then the stop lug 102 may be adjusted over the sealer indicia 100 and the operator is assured that each length of tape 114 dispensed and severed will be of the same lengths. Under these conditions, the stop lug 102 moves with the slide plate 90 until the stop block 102 engages against the abutment 106, whereby further Withdrawal of the plate 90 and drawbar 92 is prevented. In effecting this type of operation, the operator must always bear in mind that there is an exposed free end 200 of the tape and the block 102 must be set with this borne in mind.

The use of the bronze sleeve 136 is eifective to reduce static, a problem encountered in many other types of dispensing and severing machines.

As the tape-dispensing and severing device 10 has been primarily designed to avoid excessive wastage of tape, known lengths of tape may be withdrawn during any dispensing and severing operation. Furthermore, through the use of the tape-dispensing and severing device 10 it is possible to use tape imprinted with advertising or other subject matter and to set the stop block 102 at such a position that the tape is never severed through a portion of the printed material. This is a feature which is almost impossible to obtain through the use of the conventional gear-driven tape-dispensing and severing devices as presently known.

Having described and illustrated one embodiment of this invention in detail, it will be understood that the same is olfered merely by way of example, and that the instant invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A tape-dispensing and severing device comprising an elongated housing including a pair of longitudinally-extending normally upright sidewalls having a pair of adjacent ends, a draw plate mounted for reciprocation in said housing for movement longitudinally between said sidewalls, said draw plate having portions thereof extensible beyond said pair of adjacent ends, means connected with said draw plate and said housing to effect retraction of said draw plate into said housing after extension of said draw plate, a drawbar fixedly mounted on said draw plate and extending longitudinally thereof, means on said sidewalls for supporting a roll of tape therebetween for the successive feeding of lengths of tape to said drawbar, an anvil, means mounting said anvil for reciprocation between said sidewalls, said anvil reciprocating in a direction perpendicular to the reciproeable movement of said drawbar and said draw plate, said drawbar receiving successive lengths of tape thereon having portions thereof engageable by said anvil as said draw plate and drawbar are extended and retracted, and means extending between said sidewalls adjacent said pair of ends to effect the severing of a length of tape.

2. A tape-dispensing and severing device comprising a substantially hollow rectangular casing including a pair of laterally-spaced sidewalls, each of said sidewalls including, respectively, a substantially upright lobe, means on each of said lobes for supporting a roll of tape therebetween, said device at one end thereof having an anvil mounted thereon for reciprocation in vertical directions, a drawbar mounted for reciprocation on said casing in a direction perpendicular to the movement of said anvil, said drawbar receiving thereon a length of tape to be dispensed, said drawbar passing said length of tape below said anvil, and tape-severing means mounted on said one end of said casing.

3. A tape-dispensing and severing device comprising an elongated substantially hollow casing including a pair of elongated longitudinally-extending laterally-spaced and substantially parallel upright sidewalls having opposed pairs of adjacent ends, each of said sidewalls having an upright lobe projecting therefrom, means on said lobes to rotatably support a roll of tape to be dispensed therebetween, a tape guide sleeve extending between said lobes and mounted for rotation theeron, said guide sleeve being disposed below said roll-supporting means and said sleeve and roll-supporting means being longitudinally displaced from one another relative to said sidewalls, an elongated substantially rectangular draw plate mounted for reciprocation longitudinally of said casing between said sidewalls, an elongated substantially rectangular drawbar fixedly secured to said draw plate and extending longitudinally thereof, said draw plate and drawbar having portions thereof extensible beyond one pair of said adjacent pairs of ends, said drawbar being disposed below said sleeve and being reciprocable in directions perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said sleeve, said drawbar being adapted to receive successive portions of tape dispensed from said roll thereon, an anvil mounted for reciprocation on said one pair of adjacent ends of said housing, said anvil reciprocating in directions perpendicular to the direction of movement of said drawbar and being engageable with a portion of said length of tape intermediate said drawbar and said anvil, tape-severing means mounted on said one pair of adjacent ends of said housing, and means connected between said draw plate and the other of said pairs of adjacent ends of said housing constantly biasing said draw plate for movement into said housing.

4. A tape-dispensing and severing device as defined in claim 3, wherein said last-named means comprise a constant-force spring.

-5. A tape-dispensing and severing device as defined in claim 4, wherein said sidewalls include a pair of oppositely-disposed upright arms adapted to receive said anvil for reciprocation therebetween, and a substantially triangular tape-severing element mounted on said arms and projecting longitudinally therefrom to sever said tape as the same is dispensed from said device.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 22,733 3/46 Krueger 225-11 2,149,869 3/39 Ringel 225-1 2,576,404 11/51 Krueger 22511 2,835,326 5/58 Hayhurst et al. 2251 ANDREW R. J UHASZ, Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM W. DYER, JR., Examiner. 

1. A TAPE-DISPENSING ANDF SERVING DEVICE COMPRISING AN ELONGATED HOUSING INCLUDING A PAIR OF LONGITUDINALLY-EXTENDING NORMALLY UPRIGHT SIDEWALLS HAVING A PAIR OF ADJACENT ENDS, A DRAW PLATE MOUNTED FOR RECIPROCATION IN SAID HOUSING FOR MOVEMENT LONGITUDINALLY BETWEEN SAID SIDEWALLS, SAID DRAW PAIR OF ADJACENT ENDS, MEANS CONNECTED SIBLE BEYOND SAID PAIR OF ADJACENT ENDS, MEANS CONNECTED WITH SAID DRAW PLATE AND SAID HOUSING TO EFFECT RETRACTION OF SAID DDRAW PLATE INTO SAID HOUSING AFTER EXTENSION OF SAID DRAW PLATE, A DRAWBAR FIXEDLY MOUNTED ON SAID DRAW PLATE AND EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY THEREOF, MEANS ON SAID SIDEWALLS FOR SUPPORTING A ROLL OF TAPE THEREBETWEEN FOR THE SUCCESSIVE FEEDING OF LENGTHS OF TAPE TO SAID DRAWBAR, AN ANVIL, MEANS MOUNTING SAID ANVIL FOR RECIPROCATION BETWEEN SAID SIDEWALLS, SAID ANVIL RECIPROCATING IN A DIRECTION PERPENDICULAR TO THE RECIPROCABLE MOVEMENT OF SAID DDRAWBAR AND SAID DRAW PLATE, SAID DRAWBAR RECEIVING SUCCESSIVE LENGTHS OF TAPE THEREON HAVING PORTIONS THEREOF ENGAGEABLE BY SAID ANVIL AS SAID DRAW PLATE AND DRAWBAR ARE EXTENDED AND RETRACTED, AND MEANS EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID SIDEWALLS ADJACENTS SAID PAIR OF ENDS TO EFFECT THE SEVERING OF A LENGTH OF TAPE. 